Bell Textron Inc. has finalised a purchase agreement for four additional Bell 407GXi aircraft with the Polish National Police (PNP).
The helicopters will be purchased as part of the Polish national project “Safer on the roads – aerial supervision over the road traffic,” and facilitated by the use of funds from the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment.
Polish National Police Bell fleet
The four newly acquired Bell 407GXi helicopters will join three aircraft of the same type which were delivered to the PNP in October 2020.
With a total number of seven Bell 407 GXi on line, Polish National Police will become the largest user of this type of helicopter among other public institutions in Europe.
The PNP also operates two Bell 206s and a Bell 412HP.
“In recent years, we have strongly focused on improving road safety and to achieve this, we are strengthening the technical potential of our formation.”
“That is why we will want to use these four latest helicopters primarily to improve safety on the Polish roads. Ultimately, we want each of them to be equipped with an aerial observation system,” said Dariusz Augustyniak, deputy chief superintendent, Polish National Police.
The Polish National Police air wing has been in operation since 1990 and has played a critical role in supporting police operations across Poland.
Its mission is to provide fast and efficient air support to police officers on the ground, helping to enhance public safety and security throughout the country.
Helicopter configuration
As with the aircraft already delivered to the PNP, the new Bell 407GXi’s will come equipped with the Trakka Systems Total Solution Package which includes a searchlight, camera and moving map as well as downlink system and operator console.
For road traffic control application, this system enables the crew to detect, identify and track vehicles, as well as estimate their speed.
There are now 1,590 Bell 407s operating around the world, with 109 located in Europe. The aircraft has proved popular with parapublic operators, with 131 used globally for this mission.
“The decision by the Polish National Police to grow its fleet of 407GXis is testament to the industry-leading aftermarket service that Bell, and its maintenance partners is able to offer.”
“We recognize the importance of minimizing downtime, and that’s why we work hard to ensure excellent parts availability and technical support for our customers,” said Patrick Moulay, senior vice president, International Sales, Bell.
About the Bell 407GXi
The Bell 407GXi is powered by a Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turbine engine featuring two dual-channel FADECs.
This high-performance yet fuel efficient engine delivers impressive performance in hot and high conditions and delivers a cruise speed of 133 kts (246 km/h).
The aircraft also features the latest Garmin G1000H NXi avionics, featuring high resolution LED displays, faster processing power and the ability to connect to tablets and smartphones
